When Naomi Osaka walked off Rod Laver Arena with the 2021 Australian Open trophy, nobody could have guessed it would take more than four years for her to reach the second week of another Slam. But here she is, into the round of 16 at the US Open, and it feels like a milestone worth savoring.
The four-time major champion has traveled a long way to get here. Motherhood changed her life when she welcomed daughter Shai in July of 2023. Her comeback has been gradual — sometimes frustrating — but this summer, the tide has clearly turned. With new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, former coach of Agnieszka Radwanska and Iga Swiatek, Osaka has found clarity. A finalist in Montreal earlier this month, she has carried that confidence into New York.
“I think honestly since I’ve come back I kind of wanted everything to happen really quickly,” Osaka admitted. “But after Wimbledon, I just completely stopped thinking about results and tried to focus on every match by itself. I did good in Montreal, and now we’re here. I’m just really happy about that.”
Osaka’s journey has always been tied to the US Open. Six years ago, she produced one of Ashe Stadium’s most memorable moments when she defeated a then-15-year-old Coco Gauff and handed her the mic so the fans could hear from her.
It was an emotional moment that instantly went viral, and forever forged a connection between the two stars.
“I remember just knowing she was going to be a really great tennis player, which I was right,” Osaka said. “Now to be playing her again after six years, for me, feels kind of special.”
The pair have met five times in total, with Gauff holding the 3-2 edge. Last year they met in Beijing, with Osaka playing well and winning the opening set before retiring after the second due to injury.
“Really unfortunate because I felt like I was playing well,” Osaka said. “I’m honestly excited to play her now, because I feel healthy, and I just want to see what happens.”
From frustration to fulfillment, Osaka is reminding the world that her story still has plenty of chapters forthcoming.
